Barry County
Trout stocked in Roaring River
The Roaring River Hatchery has stocked 6,000 trout for the 2,000 anglers expected to converge on Roaring River State Park Friday. Now overseeing his third Opening Day, Roaring River Hatchery Manager Brad Farwell said on Monday the river is fully stocked.
Smokestack toppled
The Old Possum House at East and 9th streets saw its longstanding smokestack fall to the ground last week. The structure, which was the original electric power to Cassville and the C&W Railroad in the 1800s. It has since been home to businesses Maggie’s Place, the Alley Bar, Memories and Caroline’s, but had fallen into disrepair. Special Enterprises, an excavation business based in Cape Fair, bid $68,800 to the city for its demolition. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
Kyle Troutman: The Troutman I am
For the 11th year, this week I set the earliest alarm of my life. I got up at 5 a.m. on March 1, 2014, to attend my first Opening Day at Roaring River State Park. Outside of overcoming my sleepiness, as I was not much of a morning person in those days, I was excited to cover an event I was told was a local tradition, something you can’t miss if you want to know anything about Barry County.
Ann Houston: Perennials – more bang for your buck
Annuals vs Perennials Annuals last only one season generally, however, in some climates they will bloom year-round. Perennials return every year and cost less because you don’t have to buy them again.
Through the Years, Feb. 28
40 YEARS AGO: MORE LIKE A WINTER WONDERLAND — Roaring River State Park’s opening last week presented this sight... more like a winter wonderland...than a trout opening. Fishermen were obviously not out in numbers as they might have been had power outages and heavy snow not visited the area. Dressed for the low temperatures, most of the usuals were there, with some newcomers who just couldn’t resist the March 1 call.
Sales taxes down for month
Sales tax income to Barry County cities and county government held fairly even in February compared to a year ago, despite the shift resulting from Monett's use tax pulling down the overall county total.
News briefs, Feb. 28
The Wildcat Jazz and Cassville High School state band musicians will preset live music at Zone 4 Mini Golf and More on March 16 from 4-6 p.m. Admission to this outdoor music event is $5 per person, and 10 percent of all Zone 4 sales on March 16 will be donated back to the Band Boosters.
Sheila Harris: A license to pollute?
In 1903, my great-grandmother was orphaned at age 10 by the typhoid fever that killed her parents and a sibling, and the hand-dug well on the family’s farm was suspected to be the source of the water-borne bacteria.
Through the years, Feb. 21
30 YEARS AGO: FUTURE FARMERS - National FFA Week begins Sunday, February 19, and continues through the week of Washington’s birth-day. Cassville’s FFA chapter is 96 members strong, according to chapter advisor Gene Courdin, making it one of the high school’s largest clubs.
Kyle Troutman: History going down
In the last 30 days, action has been taken and action has been scheduled on two pieces of property in Cassville with historical significance dating back to the 1800s. Within the next few weeks, possibly on the exact two-year anniversary of its demise, demolition will begin on the Hall Theatre property at Eighth and West streets, which was destroyed in a blaze on March 1, 2021.
